Research suggests that potato protein can increase the rate of protein production in the muscles.
A new study suggests that protein derived from potatoes can be of high quality and help a person develop and maintain muscle mass.
The research, which appears in the journal Nutrients, could be important now that an increasing number of people are transitioning toward plant-based diets. These diets have an impact on a range of factors, including physical health, environmental sustainability, and exercise performance capacity.
When considering the quality of protein, people often draw a distinction between animal-based and plant-based proteins.
According to a 2019 review in the journal Nutrients, while plant-based diets offer health and environmental benefits, few single sources of plant protein provide all the beneficial amino acids associated with a protein source.
Plant-based protein can also be more difficult to digest, so some of the potential nutritional value may be lost.
By contrast, animal-based proteins contain all the amino acids that a person needs, and they are generally easier to digest.
More people are moving toward a plant-based diet as it is environmentally sustainable and generally more healthful than a diet heavy in meat and dairy.
According to the authors of a 2019 article in the journal Advances in Nutrition, “[w]orldwide, the burden of morbidity and mortality from diet-related chronic diseases is increasing, driven by poor diet quality and overconsumption of calories.”
“At the same time, the global food production system is draining our planet’s resources, jeopardizing the environment and future food security. Personal, population, and planetary health are closely intertwined and will all continue to be vulnerable to these threats unless action is taken.”
The authors of the present study wanted to explore the effects of protein derived from potatoes. While potatoes are predominantly a starchy food, they also contain protein, and extracting this can generate enough protein to